This summer, Fleet Street Quarter BID was proud to partner with LFA, the City of London Corporation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Cultural Institute in London, Let’s Art Foundation, On & On Designs and the British Council to bring Whispers by Polish artist Oskar Zięta to the heart of the City. With both the Polish Embassy and PCI located within our footprint, the project was a natural celebration of international collaboration as part of the UK–Poland Year of Culture 2025.
Installed outside One New Ludgate, the striking FiDU inflated metal became both a sculpture and a gathering point resonating with this year’s LFA theme of Voices. Through music-activated performances and community events Whispers invited workers, residents and visitors to pause and reflect in the heart of London’s historic publishing district.
The launch was a highlight of the festival as visitors were captivated by the live inflation of the FiDU steel sculpture, creating an immediate sense of excitement. Whispers uses Zięta’s pioneering FiDU (Freie Innendruck Umformung) technology, which evolves flat metal sheets into lightweight, three-dimensional forms using internal air pressure. This method has been adopted by the automotive industry and is set to redefine the practices of contemporary engineering within architecture and infrastructure, accelerating the concept of smart cities.
Crowds gathered to watch the installation take shape and the enthusiasm carried into a fascinating talk with Zięta himself, joined by Ben Russell - Curator at the Science Museum, exploring the themes of innovation, design and sustainability behind Whispers.
The response to Whispers has been overwhelming. What began as a temporary installation has become a much-loved landmark — so much so that Fleet Street Quarter BID has submitted an application to retain it in situ until the end of 2026. Beyond that, the piece is destined for a special long-term home (to be revealed soon), ensuring that its impact continues well beyond this year’s festival.
For Fleet Street Quarter, Whispers symbolises our commitment to weaving culture and creativity into the everyday fabric of the area. Alongside public realm improvements and a diverse events programme, cultural interventions like this help us to re-energise London’s western City and build a strong sense of place.
As we look ahead to LFA2026 and the journey towards our second term BID ballot, we are excited to continue to be part of the LFA and ensure Fleet Street Quarter is firmly back on the map as a cultural destination.
